I converted the clutch on my 01 to a left hand rear brake last winter. I used DOT 5 silicone fluid and it has worked great. Of late the brake has been acting up with the lever going from normal to spongy to rock hard. I've spent a couple evenings trying to solve the problem to no avail. Tonight I pulled the master off and tore it apart. It seems the coating on the bore of the cylinder has been flaking off. when I pulled the cylinder there were flakes on it. I believe that these flakes were blocking the fluid from entering or returning to the reservoir. I wont be replacing it with a magura, that's for sure but I'll be looking for a brembo replacement. Has anyone else had the same problem?
Joined Mar 2009
1K Posts | 251+
Portugal
Hi
The magura is designed to use mineral oil, but I've seen guys using brake fluid for quite some time without problems. In the usual application I don't advise to use it, because if you have a leak in the clutch cylinder you will be mixing brake fluid with your engine oil. Not good :mrgreen:
In your case, I think your problems are related with DOT 5. Why did you choose that one ???
You can read some about that here:
[attachment=0:9w7pz5ow]brakefluids.pdf[/attachment:9w7pz5ow]
:cheers:
ZAGA
The magura is designed to use mineral oil, but I've seen guys using brake fluid for quite some time without problems. In the usual application I don't advise to use it, because if you have a leak in the clutch cylinder you will be mixing brake fluid with your engine oil. Not good :mrgreen:
In your case, I think your problems are related with DOT 5. Why did you choose that one ???
You can read some about that here:
[attachment=0:9w7pz5ow]brakefluids.pdf[/attachment:9w7pz5ow]
:cheers:
ZAGA
Perhaps the issue is related to the silicone based brake fluid. The reason for brake fluid is that it is being used as the master for a left hand rear brake so there is no worry of filling the engine with brake fluid.
Joined May 2011
700 Posts | 3+
Wisconsin, U.S.
yea why dot 5? ...........incompatible brake fluids can do some crazy stuff in a brake system, swell seals, dry out the rubber and make it flake and fall apart, petroluem products will cause almost immediate damage to rubber components, i would assume that is the issue as well.....too late now though, i would flush the correct fluid through the system asap and hope the best for your calipers future...
Well, according to things I found on the web... cause everything on here is true. The seals in a magura designed for mineral oil can't handle glycol based brake fluids Dot 4 etc. They can apparently handle silicone based fluid (DOT 5). Thats why I used it. The seals are actually fine. It was the coating on the iside of the cylinder walls that has flaked off... not completely though. The piston was covered with flakes and there was even flakes and residue up in the reservoir. I'm assuming that is why I got the varied symptoms. At one point the hole from the reservoir to the piston was blocked. I'm sure this will start the whole proper fluid debate. I'm not sure if the fluid attacked the coating or it was due to age or possibly water at some point. The chrome finish is also flaking off the exterior of much of the unit. Perhaps just poor plating all round. Anyhow, I've intalled the rear foot brake again. I'll be looking for a brembo unit for the bars.
Joined May 2011
700 Posts | 3+
Wisconsin, U.S.
Kayeffess, i understand what you mean more now,i have had old gunky fluid debris junk clog stuff up in the past as well, stuff that builds up on the side of the reservior and flakes off, funny yours had the chrome peel off too, i would agree that to be age as the fluid type should only affect the rubber/seal components....
:bounce:
:bounce:
Yes, I did. I used silicone based brake fluid. I had no problems with the seals. My problems came from the coating flaking off the inside of the master and clogging the small hole to the reservoir. Brakes then no brakes. Not good. I put my rear foot brake back on but I'll be going lhrb again. The stunt factory has a brembo 13mm m/c for 115 dollars. Run dot brake fluid. They work well on my other bikes.
Joined Feb 2005
177 Posts | 52+
Perth Western Australia
Hi there Guys,
I had problems years ago with clutch on 2000 model berg , I went away from the recommended mineral oil and had problems with the seals in the master cylinder , I think it made them hard and brittle and leaked fluid or allowed air in, works for a while but then leaked later on. The seal kits were pretty expensive back then to.
Used mineral oil and had no problems then.
cheers,
I had problems years ago with clutch on 2000 model berg , I went away from the recommended mineral oil and had problems with the seals in the master cylinder , I think it made them hard and brittle and leaked fluid or allowed air in, works for a while but then leaked later on. The seal kits were pretty expensive back then to.
Used mineral oil and had no problems then.
cheers,
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